[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26659-26661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10776]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD


Agency Information Collection Activity: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

ACTION: Request to Reinstate a Previously Approved Information 
Collection.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the NTSB is submitting an Information Collection Request 
(ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for renewal of a previously approved information collection, NTSB Form 
6120.1. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and 
its expected burden.

DATES: Submit written comments regarding this proposed collection of 
information by July 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Respondents may submit written comments on the collection of 
information to the National Transportation Safety Board, Office of 
Research and Engineering, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW., Washington, DC 
20594.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loren Groff, NTSB Office of Research 
and Engineering, at (202) 314-6517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NTSB is announcing the proposed 
extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment 
on the collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
NTSB's collection of information on Form 6120.1 is necessary to fulfill 
the NTSB's statutory mandate to investigate transportation accidents, 
because the form requests information concerning aviation accidents. 
This Notice informs the public that it may submit comments concerning 
the proposed use of this form to the NTSB. This renewal request is not 
associated with a rulemaking activity.

Paperwork Reduction Act Requirement

    In accordance with OMB regulations that require this Notice for 
proposed Information Collection Requests, the NTSB herein notifies the 
public that it may submit comments on this proposed information 
collection. Title 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1) requires an agency, prior to 
submitting a collection of information to OMB for approval, to 
``provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register, and otherwise consult 
with members of the public and affected agencies concerning . . . [the] 
proposed collection of information.'' Section 1320.8(d)(1) also 
requires the NTSB to solicit comment on any aspect of this information 
collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary 
for the NTSB to perform its mission; (2) the accuracy of the estimated 
burden; (3) ways for the NTSB to enhance the quality, usefulness, and 
clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden 
could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected 
information. The NTSB will summarize and/or include the public's 
comments in its subsequent request for OMB's clearance of this 
information collection pursuant to section 1320.10(a) of title 5, Code 
of Federal Regulations.

Description of NTSB Form 6120.1

    The NTSB notes it has been using NTSB Form 6120.1 for several years 
to collect information concerning certain aviation accidents and 
incidents. The Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form is 
used in determining the facts, conditions, and circumstances for 
aircraft accident prevention activities and for statistical purposes. 
The form is divided into 17 categories, which are titled as follows: 
Basic information; aircraft information; owner/operator information; 
other aircraft--collision information (if air or ground collision 
occurred); mechanical malfunction/failure; damage to aircraft and other 
property; airport information (to be completed if accident or incident 
occurred on approach, takeoff, or within 3 miles of an airport); flight 
itinerary information; fuel and services information; evacuation of 
aircraft; weather information at the accident/incident site; pilot 
``A'' information; pilot ``B'' information; additional flight crew 
members; passengers/other personnel; narrative history of flight; and 
recommendation (concerning how the accident or incident may have been 
prevented). The basic information category requests information 
concerning the location and date and time of the accident or incident, 
the phase of operation during which the

[[Page 26660]]

accident or incident occurred, whether the occurrence was a collision 
with other aircraft, and the altitude if the event was an in-flight 
occurrence.
    The aircraft information category requests the following 
information concerning the aircraft: manufacturer, model, serial 
number, registration number, weight and center of gravity of the 
aircraft, whether the aircraft was amateur-built, category of aircraft, 
type of airworthiness certificate, number of seats, type of landing 
gear, type of maintenance program, type and date of last inspection, 
total time on airframe, type of fire extinguishing system, type of 
reciprocating fuel system, and type of propeller. The aircraft 
information category also requests ``yes'' or ``no'' answers to the 
following: whether the aircraft was instrument flight rules (IFR) 
equipped; whether it had a stall warning system installed; whether the 
emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was activated, and additional 
information about the ELT, such as whether it aided in locating the 
accident/incident, its manufacturer, model/series, serial number, and 
battery type. This section of the form also requests detailed 
information concerning the engine(s) on the aircraft, such as the 
engine manufacturer, model/series, serial number, date of manufacture, 
type of power measurement (horsepower or pounds of thrust), total time 
on engine, time since last inspection, and time since overhaul. In the 
category entitled, ``Other Aircraft--Collision,'' the form requests a 
few types of information similar to that in the aircraft information 
category, such as the aircraft registration number, manufacturer and 
model, and the names and contact information for the registered owner 
and pilot of the other aircraft. Lastly, the form includes a 
categorization of the aircraft damage, whether the aircraft sustained 
minor or no damage, substantial damage or was destroyed.
    The owner/operator section of NTSB Form 6120.1 also requests 
specific information concerning the status of the aircraft. For 
example, the category includes requests for the names and contact 
information for both the owner and the operator of the aircraft, the 
Federal Aviation Regulation under which the flight was conducted, 
whether the flight was a revenue sightseeing flight or air medical 
flight, the purpose of the flight, the type of revenue operation, type 
of cargo operation (if applicable), and the type of commercial 
operating certificate the operator holds.
    The form also seeks information concerning whether the aircraft 
sustained a mechanical malfunction or failure. In this category, the 
form provides the answers of ``yes,'' ``no,'' or ``unknown,'' to the 
question of whether a mechanical malfunction or failure occurred. If 
yes, the form provides space for the respondent to provide the name of 
the part, manufacturer, part number, serial number, and a description 
of the failure. The form also requests the total time/cycles on the 
part at issue, as well as the number of hours since the part was 
inspected or overhauled.
    The form requests a brief amount of information concerning damage 
to aircraft and other property, such as a categorization of the 
aircraft damage as none, minor, substantial, or destroyed; as well as 
whether an in-flight or on-ground fire occurred. This section of the 
form also includes a box in which respondents can provide a narrative 
description of damage to the aircraft or other property.
    Regarding airport information, the form requests the airport name 
and identifier, the aircraft's proximity to airport (as off or on the 
airport or airstrip), distance and direction from airport, and the 
elevation of the airport. The form includes boxes for respondents to 
check describing the approach segment, type of IFR approach, type of 
visual flight rules (VFR) approach, runway information, and type and 
condition of runway or landing surface.
    The form also requests information concerning the flight itinerary, 
such as the last departure point and time of departure, and the 
destination. By way of check-the-box responses, this category also 
requests information concerning the type of flight plan filed, type of 
air traffic control clearance or service, airspace where the accident 
or incident occurred, and a description of the aircraft load.
    In the fuel and services category, the form requests general 
information, mostly via check-the-box responses, concerning fuel and 
services. These requests for information include the amount of fuel on 
board at the last takeoff (in gallons), the type of fuel, and any other 
services that may have occurred prior to takeoff. Similarly, the form 
requests a brief amount of information concerning the evacuation of the 
aircraft; the form only asks whether an emergency evacuation was 
performed and the method of exit.
    The form requests information concerning weather conditions at the 
time of the accident. These requests within the weather category ask 
for information concerning the weather observation facility; the source 
of weather information; the method of briefing concerning weather as 
well as the type and completeness of the briefing; the light condition; 
characterization of visibility; sky and lowest cloud condition; the 
ceiling and its height; the restriction on visibility; the wind 
direction, speed, and gusts; the type and severity of turbulence; and a 
list of Notices to Airman and other similar advisories in effect at the 
time of the flight. In addition, the form requests the temperature, 
altimeter setting, density altitude, and dew point. Finally, this 
category of the form requests information concerning actual and 
forecasted conditions concerning icing, as well as the type and 
intensity of any precipitation.
    Concerning the crew aboard the aircraft, the form requests 
information concerning both pilots, such as names and contact 
information, dates of birth, certificate numbers, degree of injury, 
seats occupied, whether the pilots used seat belts and shoulder 
harnesses, the types of pilot and medical certificates held, the 
principal occupation, and date of last aviation medical examination. 
With regard to each pilot's medical information, the form also requests 
a listing of any medical certificate limitations and waivers. The form 
also requests information concerning each pilot's flight reviews, such 
as the date of the last flight review and the type of aircraft used on 
the last flight review; further, the form solicits information 
concerning each pilot's ratings, such as aircraft ratings, instrument 
ratings, instructor ratings, and type ratings, as well as student 
endorsements. Finally, the form includes a table requesting the amount 
of flight time (categorized into the following sections: Total flight 
time, pilot-in-command time, instructor time, time in this make/model, 
and time during the last 90 days, 30 days, and 24 hours) concerning: 
All aircraft, this make and model, airplane single- and multi-engine, 
night, instrument, rotorcraft, glider, and lighter than air.
    In a category concerning additional crewmembers, the form includes 
several spaces for listing the following information concerning 
different crewmembers: Pilot names and contact information, degree of 
injury, seat occupied, type of pilot certificates, whether the 
crewmember was type-rated for the aircraft involved in the accident or 
incident, and the total flight time at the time of the accident or 
incident. With regard to passengers, the form only requests the name, 
city, state, and zip code for each passenger, as well as the seat 
number, whether the passenger is crew, non-revenue, revenue, non-
occupant, or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

[[Page 26661]]

    As stated above, the form concludes with areas for a narrative 
history of the flight and the events or actions the respondent believes 
may have prevented the accident or incident. The form also includes a 
certification statement for the respondent to sign, attesting that the 
information provided on the form is complete and accurate to the best 
of his or her knowledge.

Use of Information on NTSB Form 6120.1

    In general, the NTSB uses the information provided on Form 6120.1 
to determine the facts, conditions, and circumstances for aircraft 
accident prevention activities and for statistical purposes. The NTSB 
typically receives several notifications for each accident or incident, 
but only requests completion of Form 6120.1 once the NTSB has 
determined it will pursue an investigation into the event. The NTSB's 
investigations of aviation accidents and incidents are exhaustive. The 
NTSB utilizes a ``party process,'' as described in 49 CFR part 831, for 
its investigations. This process involves the NTSB's invitation to 
outside entities to assist with an investigation as a ``party.'' The 
NTSB extends party status to those organizations that can provide the 
necessary technical assistance to the investigation. The investigator-
in-charge (IIC), for example, often confers party status to the 
operator, aircraft, systems, and powerplant manufacturers, and labor 
organizations involved because of the accident circumstances. Everyone 
involved in an NTSB investigation, including the parties, depend on 
accurate information contained in NTSB Form 6120.1 while conducting the 
investigation and determining which areas warrant focus and attention. 
Overall, the NTSB considers Form 6120.1 to be critical to its statutory 
function of investigation accidents and incidents, and subsequently 
issuing safety recommendations in an effort to prevent future accidents 
and incidents.
    The NTSB has carefully considered whether this collection of 
information on Form 6120.1 is duplicative of any other agency's 
collections of information. The NTSB is unaware of any form the FAA 
disseminates that solicits the same information Form 6120.1 requires. 
However, the NTSB notes some operators may choose to provide a 
voluntary report to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) in accordance with the Aviation Safety Reporting Program (ASRP). 
NASA will not accept ASRP reports concerning aircraft accidents; 
however, it is possible that an operator could report an incident to 
the NTSB, as defined in 49 CFR 830.2, and contemporaneously submit an 
ASRP report to NASA.
    The NTSB notes completion of NTSB Form 6120.1 is not voluntary, but 
is required by 49 CFR 830.15(a). The NTSB, in general, will not accept 
partially completed forms; NTSB investigators will exercise their 
discretion in requesting completion of a copy of Form 6120.1 a 
respondent submits that is partially completed.
    Currently, the NTSB accepts paper copies of Form 6120.1 sent via 
postal mail or facsimile, as well as electronic copies of Form 6120.1 
that respondents submit via electronic mail. For electronically 
submitted copies, the NTSB notes its public Web site contains a fill-
able version of Form 6120.1. The NTSB has received comments from 
various respondents who have requested an automated version of the form 
be available on the NTSB Web site. The NTSB is currently working to 
make the form available in such a manner, and is committed to providing 
the simplest manner of submission for all respondents. The NTSB plans 
to release a web-based version of the form before the end of 2013.
    The NTSB has carefully reviewed the form to ensure that it has used 
plain, coherent, and unambiguous terminology in its request for 
information. The NTSB estimates that respondents will spend 
approximately 60 minutes in completing the form. The NTSB estimates 
that approximately 1,800 respondents per year will complete the form, 
but notes that this number may vary, given the unpredictable nature of 
the frequency of aviation accidents and incidents.

Deborah A.P. Hersman,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2013-10776 Filed 5-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P